India’s Seafood Exports Net US $ 8.46 Billion in 2025-26

KOCHI:
India has exported 19,72,018 metric tons (MT) of seafood valued at ₹73,890.46 crore ($ 8.46 billion) during the fiscal year 2025-26, which is an all-time high mark by volume and value despite global odds, according to P Jawahar, Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).

The USA and China remained the primary importers of Indian seafood.

Frozen shrimp remained the leading product in seafood exports, generating ₹ 49,037.93 crore ($ 5,624.48 million). It accounts for 40.19% of the total quantity and 66.52% of total US dollar earnings from seafood exports. During this period, shrimp exports increased by 13.16% in ₹ value and 8.64% in $ value.

During the 2025-26 period, the total export of frozen shrimp was7,92,647 MT.

The United States, being the largest market, imported 2,56,128 MT of frozen shrimp. This was followed by China with 1,69,505 MT, the European Union with 1,35,599 MT, Southeast Asia with 83,810 MT, Japan with 40,776 MT, the Middle East with 30,478 MT, and all other countries combined, which accounted for 76,351MT. The exports of L. vannamei and Black Tiger shrimp have shown an increase in both volume and value.

Frozen fish, the second largest exported item, generated ₹5,658.37 crore ($ 643.70 million). Dried items, the third largest exported group, earned ₹5,079.09 crore ($ 577.44 million) and has shown a positive export trend of 78.05 % in terms of value rupees.

The export of frozen squid reached 1,02,060 MT, earning ₹4,493.80 crore ($ 513.84 million). Meanwhile, frozen cuttlefish experienced growth in both volume and value, by 13.32% in quantity and 16.25% in $ value, with exports totalling to 67,157 MT worth $ 331.96 million, respectively.

The export of chilled items earned ₹ 622.31 crore ($ 71.27 million). Export of live items showed a growth of 11.46 % in value $ terms ($ 62.43 million).

In terms of overseas markets, the United States remained the leading importer of Indian seafood, with imports valued at ₹ 20263.27 Crore ($ 2,328.74 million) and a total volume of 279,193 MT. Exports to the U.S. decreased by 10.82% in rupee value, 14.22% in dollar value, and 19.51% in volume. Within the USA’s seafood import basket from India, frozen shrimp had the lion’s share of 93.55 % in $ value.

China emerged as the largest seafood export destination from India in terms of quantity with 4,90,369 MT worth $ 1,611.32 million. European Union continued to be the third largest destination in $ terms, with an import of 2,97,518 MT worth $ 1,592.09 million. This was followed by South-East Asia in value with an import of 4,51,756 MT worth $ 1,348.97 million. Japan continued to be the fifth largest importer in value with an import of 1,05,228 MT worth $ 452.91 million. Middle East is the sixth largest destination in value with an import of 76,743 MT worth $ 283 million.

The top 3 ports handling seafood cargo were Vizag and JNPT, and Kochi.